Truman State University Athletics

Willard Sims was a product of one of the hotbeds of Illinois high school basketball at that time, East St. Louis (Ill.). He was a standout guard on Bulldog teams in the early 1950's, making the first All-MIAA team in 1951-52 and 1953-54 and barely missing the first team in 1952-53. Willard was captain of the 1953-54. e also lettered three years on the Bulldog track team. At the end of his athletic career at the university, he was awarded the Stickler Cup. Willard Sims coached at Kirksville Junior High School while working on his master's degree at the university. After receiving the master's degree, he had a tryout with the New York Knicks in 1956. He then went to Waterloo, Ill. to direct the high school basketball program. He stayed at Waterloo seven years and guided the team to a 120-58 overall record. His Waterloo quintets won two conference titles and two district championships. Then, in 1963, Mr. Sims was appointed assistant coach under his college mentor, Boyd King. He filled this role until 1971 when he succeeded the retiring Coach King. He remained the head coach of Truman's basketball team until 1995, compiling over 300 wins during his career. His 1978-79 team was nationally ranked and captured the MIAA championship, qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoffs. Two years later, they won the first-ever MIAA Post-Season Tournament and then finished second in the Division II South Central Regional, losing in a hard-fought championship game to North Alabama. That season, Coach Sims was named MIAA Coach of the Year, South Central Region Coach of the Year and was a finalist for Division II National Coach of the Year honors. In addition, Coach direct the North Squad in the 1972 Eddie Matthews Memorial All-Start game for the Missouri Heart Association. During the summers of 1980-82 he helped conduct camps and clinics in Norway for high school and national team players.